Skah to Star in Durham International

After a last minute withdrawal by world steeplechase champion
Wilson Boit Kipketer (KEN), who failed to pick up his visa from
the British embassy in Nairobi, the organisers of the Durham
International Cross have announced the participation of former
Olympic 10,000 metre champion Khalid Skah.

Skah will be a major draw in what the organisers have
announced as the biggest field ever to participate in the Durham
event, which is the second leg of the IAAF World Cross Challenge.

Skah, who was world cross country champion in 1990 and 1991,
will be competing against, amongst others, the reigning British
champion Jon Brown and his compatriot Keith Cullen, who also
placed in the top ten in Brussels.

The organisers had heralded a cross country debut appearance
by Iwan Thomas, holder of the British 400m record , but Thomas,
who had entered the invitational 3.7 kilometre race which will
precede the main event following a friendly bet with British
miler Tony Whiteman, thought better of it and withdrew.

We understand that the organisers are currently negotiating
the participation of Thomas Nyariki (KEN) as a last-minute
replacement for Boit Kipketer.